Welcome to the first episode of "Tête-à-tête" where I, Ashwini Kaikini, have conversations with absolutely beautiful people from the Yoga community.

Join us, as Uma Subramaniam Ji and I speak about :

1) Practicing Yoga since childhood as a daily routine, with her father as her Guru.

- Using Yoga as a medicine for getting over breathing issues and allergies.

- Yoga as a part of life

2) Teacher and Student relationship

3) How to choose the right teacher

4) Yoga Certification

5) How to ensure that you are teaching/learning correctly with mostly an online presence during this era of a pandemic

6) Embracing new age technologies for a traditional Yoga teacher/practitioner.

7) Seek out for the right learning, and you shall always be lead to the right source.

8) Find a good teacher, and surrender. Be aware of where you are going, be aware of your "feeling". 

9) How to pick the right place or Guru, not based on ratings, money or fame.

10) Are you learning the right way? How to know whether you are learning from the right source. 

11) A surreal experience that opened Uma ji to this world, and had her choose this path.

12) Contacting Uma ji, and getting acquainted with the work that she does.

About:

Uma Subramaniam : Uma’s foundation in yoga comes from learning to practice from her father as a child. From working as a Top Internal Auditor on a national level, to a revered Yoga Teacher, she has had a marvelous journey.

As a core member of a1000yoga Academy, Bangalore since its inception, Uma provided end to end support to management and as faculty to spread the message of Sattwa under the guidance of Pradeep Sattwamaya. Uma is trained in the Classical Hata tradition, is a Ministry of Ayush Level 2 yoga teacher and is also a Yoga Alliance registered teacher specializing in Prenatal Yoga and Children’s Yoga. She also has experience working with children with special needs as a member of Prafulla Oorja Sangha.

Uma is currently finishing a Masters in Sanskrit-Vedanta, KSU, Bangalore to explore the disciplines of Yoga and Ayurveda (for mental and physical well-being) together through the original and authentic medium of Sanskrit.

She has recently been appointed Vice President, Karnataka Yoga Sector Council of the Women's Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI). Uma is actively consulting with health and fitness start-up Altlifelab (www.livealtlife.com) and is designing the yoga therapy program to reverse lifestyle disorders.

Ashwini Kaikini: Ashwini Kaikini is a Yoga Teacher, an entrepreneur and founder of Vrtti Yoga Institute. She uses Yoga as a medium of healing and spiritual growth, using Integrated Yoga therapy. She is also the Vice President of Nrityanidhi, an International Dance Institute, an Artist, a Kathak (Indian Classical) Dancer, Teacher and Performer. She has worked with various schools, college to bring the effects of Yoga into the limelight. She has been working with people through varied age in human years, from children of 3 years, to even adults beyond the age of 60 upto 90; working on Physical, Mental, Emotional and Psychological stability.

She believes in an increasingly positive outlook towards life. Having done this through the medium of Dance, being a teacher at the Dance Ashram (nrityanidhi.com) for over 15 years, her calling was to use Yoga to encourage Kindness Love and Acceptance towards oneself, which then tends to spread to the people around, therefore creating a better World around us. The larger vision is to have peace, joy and love in all our hearts. 

Welcome to the seventh episode of "Tête-à-tête" where I, Ashwini Kaikini, have conversations with absolutely beautiful people from the Yoga community.

I got to know about Yashwanth Panyam from one of my friend, and was astound to know about his wisdom and deep understanding of Yoga. I had a wonderful talk with him where his humility and his surrender to his Teachers and to the Divine really shone through. From Aerospace, to a Yogic life, he has had quite a journey; and an amazing one.

Join us, as Yashwanth and I speak about his drive that led him to quit his job in Aerodynamics, to follow his heart, and carry out Yoga as his profession. We also journey through his natural ability to ease into asanas, and the way he understands the human body; his words of wisdom that came to him from his forefathers who worked in agriculture field and how he has carried it with his own learning and teaching. His reflections about Yoga being Selfless, and his Breath Work, are worth listening to. 

About :         

Yashwant Panyam 

Yashwanth was born in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh in South India. He holds degree in Aerospace. After practicing sports for several years, his very close friend inspired him to try yoga. He rediscovered himself through the practice of yoga and also realized how ecstatic the whole experience of yoga practice is. Yashwanth started assisting his master teacher soon after accomplishing his teacher’s training with flying colors.

He decided to utilize his knowledge through yoga for the people suffering from severe physical and mental alignment. Hence now the whole idea of Pratyaksha Yoga came in the picture. Yashwanth is the founder and director of Pratyaksha Yoga. Pratyaksha yoga conducts courses and workshops in and around Bangalore, India. The objective is to introduce the real aspects of life through Yoga.         

Ashwini Kaikini - 

Ashwini Kaikini is a Yoga Teacher, an entrepreneur and founder of Vrtti Yoga Institute. She uses Yoga as a medium of healing and spiritual growth, using Integrated Yoga therapy. She is also the Vice President of Nrityanidhi, an International Dance Institute, an Artist, a Kathak (Indian Classical) Dancer, Teacher and Performer. She heads the Event Organization, Nava under the banner of Nrityanidhi, which has held performances around the world. She has worked with various schools, college to bring the effects of Yoga into the limelight. She has been working with people through varied age in human years, from children of 3 years, to even adults beyond the age of 60 unto 90; working on Physical, Mental, Emotional and Psychological stability.

She believes in an increasingly positive outlook towards life. Having done this through the medium of Dance, being a teacher at the Dance Ashram (nrityanidhi.com) for over 15 years, her calling was to use Yoga to encourage Kindness Love and Acceptance towards oneself, which then tends to spread to the people around, therefore creating a better World around us. The larger vision is to have peace, joy and love in all our hearts.

Welcome to the sixth episode of "Tête-à-tête" where I, Ashwini Kaikini, have conversations with absolutely beautiful people from the Yoga community.

Annelise Piers and I speak about Yin Yoga, apothecary and essential oils, which she's quite a magician with. She's so passionate about them, and that truly shows in the oils that she creates. She also used Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)  in healing and in Yoga. We speak about metaphor therapy, and the brilliance of using poetry and other aspects of reflections in Yoga practice and conducting a session. There's an interesting conversation about her infamous "BIRYANI DIET" which had my in peals of laughter, and I'd say is quite something to look out for. 

Enjoy our talk on Yoga and a lot more, with laughs and joy that we happened to have stumbled into. 

About:

Annelise Piers– yogic sciences expert & apothecary

Anna specializes in physical and emotional healing, using a combination of yin yoga, essential oils and metaphor therapy. She is a qualified Hatha and Yin yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance USA, and an NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer, licensed by co-founder Dr. Richard Bandler and the Society of Neuro Linguistic Programing (USA & UK). She is an essential oil specialist.

She has spent the last six years in personal lab, researching the perimenopause and menopausal transition. She believes that women can stay in the driver’s seat on their wellness journey, every day of the month. She has dropped 24 kgs and kept it off over the past 8 years, applying a gentle system of working with the mind and body, inside out.

Follow her on Instagram: annelise_piers

Ashwini Kaikini - 

Ashwini Kaikini is a Yoga Teacher, an entrepreneur and founder of Vrtti Yoga Institute. She uses Yoga as a medium of healing and spiritual growth, using Integrated Yoga therapy. She is also the Vice President of Nrityanidhi, an International Dance Institute, an Artist, a Kathak (Indian Classical) Dancer, Teacher and Performer. She has worked with various schools, college to bring the effects of Yoga into the limelight. She has been working with people through varied age in human years, from children of 3 years, to even adults beyond the age of 60 upto 90; working on Physical, Mental, Emotional and Psychological stability.

She believes in an increasingly positive outlook towards life. Having done this through the medium of Dance, being a teacher at the Dance Ashram (nrityanidhi.com) for over 15 years, her calling was to use Yoga to encourage Kindness Love and Acceptance towards oneself, which then tends to spread to the people around, therefore creating a better World around us. The larger vision is to have peace, joy and love in all our hearts.

The links for references of what Anneliese spoke about: https://www.thegabrielmethod.com/refe......

https://www.goodreads.com/.../809976-......

To book a class, click on - https://www.leapfitness.in/book-classes

Book - "Your perfect body through the chakras" by Cyndi Dale

Welcome to the fifth episode of Season 1 of "Tête-à-tête" where I, Ashwini Kaikini, have conversations with absolutely beautiful people from the Yoga community.

Krupalini got in touch with me four years ago, for individual sessions. She was my first ever student to come for individual sessions, and I could not have asked for a better experience. I have my unique ways of working. For it to really work its magic, it is pertinent for someone to be open to listen to my seemingly peculiar and unconventional methods, and embrace them without a shadow of doubt. That’s true for any healing and therapy; but more so when you do not understand it.

Krupalini has been so successful in surrendering unto everything I said and proposed for her to practice; that I have seen her build a magnificent life, beyond imagination! She has completely turned the tides from feeling imbalanced and hating her job, insomnia, and not having great relationships; to her as of today, doing magnificent work as an entrepreneur, influencing so many individuals to live a better life, and creating change in the World through her work every day. She has also spun around her personal life, and I am really happy to see the smile and laughter glistening through each time I converse with her.

About :

Krupalini Swamy -

Krupalini is the Chief Operating Officer of Evobi Automations Pvt Ltd and is a World Youth Leader of UNESCO. She also serves as a Mentor for Change at NITI Aayog India. She is a founding member of the Steering Committee of Global Youth Alliance for Kindness which currently operates in 24 countries. She mentors eight startups in Services fraternity with people and process management. She is also a member of the elite House of Genius at IIMB Bangalore as a collaborator.

She is actively engaged with SDG 4(Sustainable Development Goal 4- Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all) and is today working towards upliftment of education with 450+ schools across India.

She has also founded Project Njaan where she is collecting life lessons with a hope of creating an e library which will become a guiding light for anyone who is looking for hope and needs guidance.

Ashwini Kaikini - 

Ashwini Kaikini is a Yoga Teacher, an entrepreneur and founder of Vrtti Yoga Institute. She uses Yoga as a medium of healing and spiritual growth, using Integrated Yoga therapy. She is also the Vice President of Nrityanidhi, an International Dance Institute, an Artist, a Kathak (Indian Classical) Dancer, Teacher and Performer. She has worked with various schools, college to bring the effects of Yoga into the limelight. She has been working with people through varied age in human years, from children of 3 years, to even adults beyond the age of 60 upto 90; working on Physical, Mental, Emotional and Psychological stability.

She believes in an increasingly positive outlook towards life. Having done this through the medium of Dance, being a teacher at the Dance Ashram (nrityanidhi.com) for over 15 years, her calling was to use Yoga to encourage Kindness Love and Acceptance towards oneself, which then tends to spread to the people around, therefore creating a better World around us. The larger vision is to have peace, joy and love in all our hearts.

Welcome to the fourth episode of "Tête-à-tête" where I, Ashwini Kaikini, have conversations with beautiful people from the Yoga community.

Shobhit and I speak about how an accident guided him towards yoga. How he journeyed from being dependent/addicted to substances, to the life of a yogi, is one that is fascinating and inspiring!! We also talk about his life at an ashram that begun this journey for him. Various topics that we discussed range from insights about ego of a teacher and a practitioner, and the unhealthy ego. Something that I hadn't given much thought to until then. It was a great experience for me, to be able to address mental health and addiction on this platform. 

Since both Shobhit and I have this in common, we went on to discuss about balancing /managing two parallel career paths in life, and being able to do justice to both. All in all, an invigorating conversation that you would definitely enjoy as much as I did. 

About:

Shobhit Raj:

Shobhit Raj, a Yoga Teacher, Yoga Nidra expert, a writer, and a working UX Design professional is our special guest this week. He is also one of those who pushed me to start the podcast here.

What does this unmistakably intriguing journey hold as a message for each one of us?

I had goosebumps as I heard him talk about everything from his practice, to his insights. Please read his wonderfully articulated stories on : https://medium.com/@CognitiveYogi

Tune in for more about Mental Health, Physical Well-being, Self Awareness and a lot more.

Ashwini Kaikini :

Ashwini Kaikini is a Yoga Teacher, an entrepreneur and founder of Vrtti Yoga Institute. She uses Yoga as a medium of healing and spiritual growth, using Integrated Yoga therapy. She is also the Vice President of Nrityanidhi, an International Dance Institute, an Artist, a Kathak (Indian Classical) Dancer, Teacher and Performer. She has worked with various schools, college to bring the effects of Yoga into the limelight. She has been working with people through varied age in human years, from children of 3 years, to even adults beyond the age of 60 upto 90; working on Physical, Mental, Emotional and Psychological stability.

She believes in an increasingly positive outlook towards life. Having done this through the medium of Dance, being a teacher at the Dance Ashram (nrityanidhi.com) for over 15 years, her calling was to use Yoga to encourage Kindness Love and Acceptance towards oneself, which then tends to spread to the people around, therefore creating a better World around us. The larger vision is to have peace, joy and love in all our hearts.

Yoga Nidra is a Pratyahara practice : Withdrawing the senses from the external, and journeying inwards.

Welcome to the third episode, Season 1 of "Tête-à-tête" where I, Ashwini Kaikini, have conversations with beautiful people from the Yoga community. 

As an adult, as a Business Coach, when it becomes hard to let go of control; it sure is amazing how she managed to let go, and give herself in the hands of a teacher. So much so, that it lead to an internal transformation, in a matter of just 4 months. Of course, the practice is very much here to stay. Here we have the first ever student on this series - 

Join us, as I speak to Rohini Mundra about her journey with different forms of physical activities, adventure sports and workouts; eventually leading her to a journey with yoga.

How breath reflected on her mental balance, and how she found peace in the process. 

We also talk about yoga reflecting in personal and professional life, especially with the quarantine that we've been through, and the  constant changes during the pandemic.

Rohini Mundra:

An Entrepreneur, Author of “The 1% Club”, Business coach, and a Ted speaker, featured in Forbes Magazine. 

Rohini Mundra started her first venture in 2012 and has moved on to having 3 established ventures and working on her 4th. She is a speaker and a business coach who has worked with people across the globe! She has completed her entrepreneurship from ISB Hyderabad, sponsored by Goldman Sachs!

She has won many awards like ‘Future of India’ award from CNBC, ‘Most influential women’ entrepreneurs of the year award by Zee business, ‘Young achiever’ award from Stardom Alliance USA and so on. She runs a foundation called the Rohini Mundra foundation that supports old parents who are abandoned by their kids.

Ashwini Kaikini:

Ashwini Kaikini is a Yoga Teacher, an entrepreneur and founder of Vrtti Yoga Institute. She uses Yoga as a medium of healing and spiritual growth, using Integrated Yoga therapy. She is also the Vice President of Nrityanidhi, an International Dance Institute, an Artist, a Kathak (Indian Classical) Dancer, Teacher and Performer. She has worked with various schools, college to bring the effects of Yoga into the limelight. She has been working with people through varied age in human years, from children of 3 years, to even adults beyond the age of 60 upto 90; working on Physical, Mental, Emotional and Psychological stability.

She believes in an increasingly positive outlook towards life. Having done this through the medium of Dance, being a teacher at the Dance Ashram (nrityanidhi.com) for over 15 years, her calling was to use Yoga to encourage Kindness Love and Acceptance towards oneself, which then tends to spread to the people around, therefore creating a better World around us. The larger vision is to have peace, joy and love in all our hearts.

I kept saying, Yoga isn't about Asana. Someone asked me.... "Well then, what is it about?" That's what gave rise to  "Tête-à-tête" where I really wanted to bring the voices of dedicated Yoga teachers and practitioners on a platform. Delving into the deep ocean that this is,  we're running strong with so many people and so many episodes down, and many more to come where we find the answer to this question through intimate conversations. Come, Let's find out together. ~ Ashwini Kaikini

Ashwini Kaikini is a Yoga Acharya, an entrepreneur and founder of Vrtti Yoga.   She uses Yoga as a medium of healing and spiritual growth, using Integrated Yoga therapy.   She is also an Artist, a Kathak Dancer, Teacher and Performer; and the Vice President of Nrityanidhi, an International Dance Institute.  She heads the Event Organization, Nava under the banner of Nrityanidhi, which has held performances around the world.    She has worked with various schools, college to bring the effects of Yoga into the limelight. She has been working with people through varied age in human years, from children of 3 years, to even adults beyond the age of 60 upto 90; working on Physical, Mental, Emotional and Psychological stability.

She believes in an increasingly positive outlook towards life. Having done this through the medium of Dance, being a teacher at the Dance Ashram (nrityanidhi.com) for over 15 years, her calling was to use Yoga to encourage Kindness Love and Acceptance towards oneself, which then tends to spread to the people around, therefore creating a better World around us. The larger vision is to have peace, joy and love in all our hearts.

Welcome to the second episode, Season 1 of "Tête-à-tête" where I, Ashwini Kaikini, have conversations with beautiful people from the Yoga community.

Join us, as Luvena and I speak about  Yoga as a Philosophy, and an important aspect of building a Yoga Community. We also talk about recognizing one's path, and strengthening the connect.

Having Luvena who is so knowledgeable in Ayurveda, we speak about the smallest elements that help in day to day life, as well as a healing and therapy for overall health and fitness. 

We have had the maximum audience questions, very interesting ones, I must add, in this segment of the Tête-à-tête series. 

Find Luvena @curvyyogime on Instagram

About:

Luvena  Rangel:

Luvena is a philosopher at heart and a medic in her head. She has a background in medicine & holistic health, alongside a minor in homeopathy as well as Ayurveda and Meditation. She’s trained in somatic work as well as energy medicine and is a qualified counselor.

She has studied under the guidance of many known thought, yoga and spiritual teachers like Pandit Vamadev Shastry, Yogini Shambhavi, Deepak Chopra, Vianna Stibal and Pradeep Sattwamaya . She is faculty for Integrative Anatomy, Ayurveda, Ethics and teaching methodology, for many YTTs in India as well as International schools.

Luvena has over 15 years experience in the corporate world and brings in a strong value system to her work, especially around diversity, equity, accessibility & inclusion, especially through yoga. She is an active voice for social justice matters and for the cause of women and children.

Luvena has been an advisor to Yoga Alliance (US) for their Standards Review Project, Inclusion Workgroup, Covid Relief Committee as well as the International Relations Group. She is the President of the Karnataka Yoga Sector Council of the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI).

Ashwini Kaikini:

Ashwini Kaikini is a Yoga Teacher, an entrepreneur and founder of Vrtti Yoga Institute. She uses Yoga as a medium of healing and spiritual growth, using Integrated Yoga therapy. She is also the Vice President of Nrityanidhi, an International Dance Institute, an Artist, a Kathak (Indian Classical) Dancer, Teacher and Performer. She has worked with various schools, college to bring the effects of Yoga into the limelight. She has been working with people through varied age in human years, from children of 3 years, to even adults beyond the age of 60 up to 90; working on Physical, Mental, Emotional and Psychological stability.

She believes in an increasingly positive outlook towards life. Having done this through the medium of Dance, being a teacher at the Dance Ashram (nrityanidhi.com) for over 15 years, her calling was to use Yoga to encourage Kindness Love and Acceptance towards oneself, which then tends to spread to the people around, therefore creating a better World around us. The larger vision is to have peace, joy and love in all our hearts.